Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 35

Trivakrā’s Transformation and the Breaking of Kaṁsa’s Bow

Mathurā-līlā Prelude

Devanagari script

कंस: परिवृतोऽमात्यै राजमञ्च उपाविशत् । मण्डलेश्वरमध्यस्थो हृदयेन विदूयता ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

kaṁsaḥ parivṛto ’mātyai rāja-mañca upāviśat maṇḍaleśvara-madhya-stho hṛdayena vidūyatā

Translation

甘萨在群臣簇拥下登上王座高台；然而即便坐在诸侯之间，他的心仍不由得战栗。

Synonyms

• kaṁsaḥ: Kaṁsa
• kaṁsaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṁsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parivṛtaḥ: surrounded
• parivṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parivṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pari+√vṛ ‘to surround/cover’)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• amātyaiḥ: by/with ministers
• amātyaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/सहकारी; instrumental of accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• rāja-mañce: on the royal platform
• rāja-mañce: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + mañca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष ‘राज्ञः मञ्चः’

• upāviśat: sat down
• upāviśat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa+√viś (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• maṇḍaleśvara-madhya-sthaḥ: standing in the midst of the lords of the realm
• maṇḍaleśvara-madhya-sthaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sthā)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष ‘मण्डलेश्वराणां मध्ये स्थितः’

• hṛdayena: in/with (his) heart
• hṛdayena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidūyatā: with distress / burning (anxiety)
• vidūyatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidūyata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; vi+√dū ‘to burn, be distressed’)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); वर्तमानकृदन्त/विशेषणरूप ‘burning, distressed’—instrumental of manner

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Amātyas (ministers)
• Maṇḍaleśvaras (ruling kings)

FAQs

Why was Kaṁsa’s heart burning in this Bhagavatam verse?

Although seated like a king among ministers and allied rulers, Kaṁsa was inwardly consumed by fear and agitation due to the impending threat of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose arrival signaled the collapse of Kaṁsa’s tyranny.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.42.35?

This narration is spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of the account of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes in Mathurā.

What is the practical lesson from Kaṁsa sitting in honor yet suffering within?

External power, status, and company cannot remove inner fear; peace arises from alignment with dharma and devotion, whereas opposition to the Lord breeds anxiety even amid royal comfort.